Sumo Mod Mock-up Day!
Apr 13, 2018 7:21:59 GMT -8
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Groundhog66, leffemonster, and 5 more like this
Post by buddhajones on Apr 13, 2018 7:21:59 GMT -8
Preface! I am not a professional modder, I have amassed tools and knowledge over the years all of which I am happy to share but this is not a solicitation for me to do any modding for you, just wanted to share my plans and the crazy things I dream up in my head.
So to get things started, I have two mods in the works, and a third hopefully to be done by the end of the year which will be the most intensive. As you can see there are two dials on my bench this morning, the first is the silver Transocean Halliburton and the second is the green and gold SARB017. Let's start with the Transocean.
This mod is set to replace the white Stargate that I am selling, since white dials from Seiko are a scarce and a premium I opted for silver. And I also didn't want to get the limited edition dial that Seiko made for the SPB029 because it says LIMITED EDITION on it, and that's not what I am after. This was a bit of a gamble because the dial is two layers which means added thickness which means stem height offset issues and actually fitting into the case. Well unfortunately I was right on both accounts, the stem height is off by about 0.5mm and the case won't close because the movement holder is in the way of the case back. Semi-easy fix as I planned ahead for that and ordered a spare chapter ring that I will have to sand down to allow for the added thickness.
This is what is will almost look like when fitted properly. The dial is very shiny so I will most likely give the new chapter ring a coat of clear gloss spray to match the shine.
The hands are still up in the air however. I was able to get a set of Sea Urchin hands from a fellow member, they do the job but I think all black hands will be a better look for this one.
I was able to get a set from Duarte but I think they are too thin, I like the width of the gen hands better, but the second hand is a winner!
Next up is the SARB!!! An Alpinist Sumo!? Heck Yeah!! I must admit, I did like the SARB017, but I am not a 39mm watch guy. And while Seiko did make a green Sumo, the awesome SPB031, I am not about to drop 2 grand on a Seiko that doesn't have 'Grand' in the name. So with that in mind I decided to make my own.
I was able to get the dial from another member on the site, thank you kind sir, but it is just a hair too big so I will have to size it. Yes you can size dials that are too big without ruining them.
The long and less accurate way is with a hand file and the faster and more accurate way is oddly enough with a Dremmel. I will post that tutorial when I get to doing it, that will be in the next few weeks hopefully as parts start coming in.
What parts? Well I have a set of gold hands coming in that I got from eBay and I also have a gold crown coming in from an SRP583. I also have a gold and black insert coming in from Yobokies, and I also got Harold to do another run of the gold and silver beads of rice bracelets for the Sumo since he was out of them. When this is done it should look killer!
One of the many things I learned from my Dad is you have to have the right tools to do the job right. But I also don't buy things just to have them, example, my straps changing tool of choice for drilled lugs is a thumbtack, perfect length and diameter and just about free. But I wanted to show the tools that I do have in case some of you out there are on the fence about doing mods yourself and don't know what you should/need to get.
This is my toolbox. There are many like it but this one is mine. ;-)
When I open up a case, before I close it back up I always take the opportunity to grease the seals, and that on the right it the case/movement holder.
Screwdrivers in various sizes.
Needle files for reaming hands that I want to use but are too small.
Various tweezers in different shapes and sizes, great for holding all of the little bits inside movements.
Those are my loupes on the left, I wear glasses so they are the clip on type. The gold ones are cool, they are vintage Baushe and Lombe. I don't use them but I just wanted them because they were cool. That tool on the right is a hand reaming tool, you use that with the needle files to open up the holes in hands.
The blue thing on the left is my oil cup and the oilers there on the right. I don't service auto movements but I can do manual wound ETA types. The two blue metal objects are my hand removers, most people use the plunger style, I prefer these. And the silver thing is my hand setting tool.
Thanks for reading!
So to get things started, I have two mods in the works, and a third hopefully to be done by the end of the year which will be the most intensive. As you can see there are two dials on my bench this morning, the first is the silver Transocean Halliburton and the second is the green and gold SARB017. Let's start with the Transocean.
This mod is set to replace the white Stargate that I am selling, since white dials from Seiko are a scarce and a premium I opted for silver. And I also didn't want to get the limited edition dial that Seiko made for the SPB029 because it says LIMITED EDITION on it, and that's not what I am after. This was a bit of a gamble because the dial is two layers which means added thickness which means stem height offset issues and actually fitting into the case. Well unfortunately I was right on both accounts, the stem height is off by about 0.5mm and the case won't close because the movement holder is in the way of the case back. Semi-easy fix as I planned ahead for that and ordered a spare chapter ring that I will have to sand down to allow for the added thickness.
This is what is will almost look like when fitted properly. The dial is very shiny so I will most likely give the new chapter ring a coat of clear gloss spray to match the shine.
The hands are still up in the air however. I was able to get a set of Sea Urchin hands from a fellow member, they do the job but I think all black hands will be a better look for this one.
I was able to get a set from Duarte but I think they are too thin, I like the width of the gen hands better, but the second hand is a winner!
Next up is the SARB!!! An Alpinist Sumo!? Heck Yeah!! I must admit, I did like the SARB017, but I am not a 39mm watch guy. And while Seiko did make a green Sumo, the awesome SPB031, I am not about to drop 2 grand on a Seiko that doesn't have 'Grand' in the name. So with that in mind I decided to make my own.
I was able to get the dial from another member on the site, thank you kind sir, but it is just a hair too big so I will have to size it. Yes you can size dials that are too big without ruining them.
The long and less accurate way is with a hand file and the faster and more accurate way is oddly enough with a Dremmel. I will post that tutorial when I get to doing it, that will be in the next few weeks hopefully as parts start coming in.
What parts? Well I have a set of gold hands coming in that I got from eBay and I also have a gold crown coming in from an SRP583. I also have a gold and black insert coming in from Yobokies, and I also got Harold to do another run of the gold and silver beads of rice bracelets for the Sumo since he was out of them. When this is done it should look killer!
One of the many things I learned from my Dad is you have to have the right tools to do the job right. But I also don't buy things just to have them, example, my straps changing tool of choice for drilled lugs is a thumbtack, perfect length and diameter and just about free. But I wanted to show the tools that I do have in case some of you out there are on the fence about doing mods yourself and don't know what you should/need to get.
This is my toolbox. There are many like it but this one is mine. ;-)
When I open up a case, before I close it back up I always take the opportunity to grease the seals, and that on the right it the case/movement holder.
Screwdrivers in various sizes.
Needle files for reaming hands that I want to use but are too small.
Various tweezers in different shapes and sizes, great for holding all of the little bits inside movements.
Those are my loupes on the left, I wear glasses so they are the clip on type. The gold ones are cool, they are vintage Baushe and Lombe. I don't use them but I just wanted them because they were cool. That tool on the right is a hand reaming tool, you use that with the needle files to open up the holes in hands.
The blue thing on the left is my oil cup and the oilers there on the right. I don't service auto movements but I can do manual wound ETA types. The two blue metal objects are my hand removers, most people use the plunger style, I prefer these. And the silver thing is my hand setting tool.
Thanks for reading!